A motion calling for the Government to think again about its cash support for Cleveland Police has been passed unanimously by Middlesbrough Council.

The motion welcomed the progress made by Cleveland Police and Cleveland Police Authority in reducing crime, increasing police visibility, introducing neighbourhood policing, and pursuing good financial management to put more cash into front line services.

But it criticised the Government for the way Cleveland lost out in the amount of cash support it received for policing on Teesside.

Barry Coppinger, Executive councillor for community safety, told the council Cleveland Police got a raw deal. It was classed as a shire county when it reality it was an urban industrialised area “with all the issues that go with that”.

He said if Cleveland was treated as a metropolitan area it would receive an extra £1m of support.

“We have to lobby the Government for a fair deal,” he said.

Ron Lowes, Executive councillor for transport, said: “The message seems to be clear - do things well and you suffer.”

Councillor Ken Walker, a former chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, said: “At a time when we have a police service dealing with some tremendous issues you cannot see the logic of cutting back funding.”